いい子
ii ko
The English phrase "such a good boy" is expressed in Japanese as いい子 (ii ko).
This phrase is used to praise a child or a pet for behaving well. While it literally translates to "good child," it is the standard way to say "good boy" or "good girl" in Japanese.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ii (good) and ko (child).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
いい子 is an informal expression. It is typically used by adults toward children or pets, rather than between equals or toward superiors. For a formal context, such as describing "such a splendid child," you would use ご立派なお子様. In a very casual setting, such as calling a pet "such a great doggie," you might say すごくいいワンちゃん.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase sound more natural and affectionate when praising someone or a pet, you can add the particle ne to the end, resulting in いい子だね (you are such a good boy/girl, aren't you).
How do you pronounce it?
ii ko
Did you know?
- In Japanese pop culture, specifically in anime, the phrase いい子 is often used by villains to manipulate or patronize characters, giving the phrase a subtly predatory or condescending tone that differs from its sweet dictionary definition.
- While いい子 is used for children and pets, using it toward an adult is often seen as patronizing or erotic, as it suggests the adult is acting like a submissive child.
- When using this phrase with pets, it is common to change the tone to be highly melodic and high-pitched. While the words remain いい子, the prosody (the rhythm and pitch) changes significantly to signal affection to the animal.
Examples in context
- お利口さんだね、ワンちゃん。You are such a clever doggie.
- いい子ですね。ii ko desu ne.You are such a good boy.
- 彼はとてもいい子です。kare wa totemo ii ko desu.He is such a good boy.
- 今日もいい子だったね。kyou mo ii ko datta ne.You were such a good boy today too.
Example conversation
陽葵 is praising her young nephew, 蓮, for sitting quietly.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮くん、座って待てたね。いい子！ren-kun, suwatte mate ta ne. ii ko!Ren, you could sit and wait. Such a good boy!
- 蓮 Renえへへ、やったよ！ehehe, yatta yo!Hehe, I did it!
- 陽葵 Himari本当にいい子ね。hontou ni ii ko ne.You really are such a good boy.
- 蓮 Renもっと頑張るよ！motto ganbaru yo!I'll try even harder!
